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Category Archives: Art & Photography

I can’t actually put into words how obsessed I am right now with washi tape! If this is brand new to you, washi tape tape is basically a decorative masking tape that originated in Japan. It’s used for crafts, card making, home decor, scrapbooking and literally anything else you can think of! It comes in every colour imaginable including neons, pastels and prints.

At the moment I’m planning to convert my spare room into a blogging / beauty mecca. I know exactly what I want to do but the room is full of junk right now, so I need to sort it all out, and get rid of the furniture I already have. My Ikea basket is already full with drawers, a mirror and a table top ready to go! I’ve been getting a bit ahead of myself and looking into decorating ideas already, and I’ve completely fallen in love with washi tape. I love the bright colours and patterns, and the fact that it’s so versatile, so I’ve put together ten of my favourite washi tape inspiration images from the internet. I’ve also ordered myself a few rolls of tape so fingers crossed within the next month or so, I’ll have the room sorted out and I can start getting creative!

The other day I read this article on Cosmopolitan’s site, it’s about artist Ben Hopper’s latest exhibition entitled Natural Beauty. The exhibition features eight portraits of beautiful women looking seductively at the camera whilst showing off their armpit hair. Challenging the ideals of the beauty industry, it raises the question on why it’s deemed that body hair is unsexy. Armpit hair isn’t really something we consciously think of or really talk about – If I mention ‘Pitts’ I reckon most people will instantly think of the Brangelina kind, rather than the unwanted fuzz growing under your arms.

This interested me because why should images of women with body hair be so shocking? Why is armpit hair seen as unsexy? Or any body hair for that matter. It is natural after all!

Hopper comments on his original intended message for these images – he said: “It started as a joke about contemporary art and how a lot of artists create a body of repetitive work only to be treated seriously by overwhelmed audiences. “I thought photographing a lot of really beautiful women with armpit hair would make a similar effect.”

I think it’s quite sad that as a culture we are conditioned to believe that women must have no body hair at all to be considered attractive. Even though I know most people will say that hairless is their preference, the Facebook replies to this post still shocked me –

I prefer shaved pits on myself, it’s just more comfortable, but each to their own. If a woman wants to have armpit hair then I won’t judge, just as I wouldn’t judge a man for shaving his pits or legs, it’s all personal preference. The fact is BODY HAIR IS NATURAL, it’s normal – but people see it as ‘disgusting’ and unsavoury. Kenny Cook comments very eloquently above – ‘Shave under arms bitch your not a man’.

I find these strong reactions quite shocking, it’s just a bit of armpit hair for God’s sake, chill out! Also this is art – some of the models grew the hair for the project, and some (though it doesn’t say specifically) may have had the hair anyway. Who cares!? If a woman wants to have armpit hair surely that’s her choice?? I think these women are beautiful just as they are.

About the Blog

Thou Shalt Not Covet… is a blog dedicated to my obsession with beautiful things, from fashion and make up, to lifestyle and travel. I will also be including product reviews, and anything else I want to share with the world!